PM Modi Arrives In South Africa For BRICS Summit, Gets Traditional Welcome In Johannesburg

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly greeted on Tuesday by African dancers presenting a traditional dance performance upon his arrival in South Africa to participate in the BRICS meeting

Following the grand welcome, PM Modi proceeded towards the gathering of the Indian diaspora, who greeted him with 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' and 'Vande Matram' chants.

PM Modi is visiting the African country from August 22 to 24 at the invitation of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africa is hosting the first in-person summit of BRICS comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, since 2019.

Earlier in his departure statement in New Delhi, Modi said BRICS has been pursuing a strong cooperation agenda across various sectors.

#WATCH | PM Modi arrives in South Africa on a three-day visit to attend the 15th BRICS summit, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says "Deputy President of South Africa received the PM on this arrival. A ceremonial guard of honour will be extended to the PM..." pic.twitter.com/ypLb35rJHt

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

"BRICS has been pursuing a strong cooperation agenda across various sectors. We value that BRICS has become a platform for discussing and deliberating on issues of concern for the entire Global South, including development imperatives and reform of the multilateral system. This Summit will provide a useful opportunity for BRICS to identify future areas of cooperation and review institutional development.

#WATCH | Members of the Indian community gathered inside Sandton Sun Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa to welcome PM Modi on his arrival in the city.

"It is an honour indeed to be in the presence of the Prime Minister. He is a wonderful man and my hero," says a woman of… pic.twitter.com/uvMHMrqKCA

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

During my stay in Johannesburg, I will also participate in BRICS-Africa Outreach and BRICS Plus Dialogue event that will be held as part of the BRICS Summit activities. I look forward to interacting with a number of guest countries that have been invited to participate in this event," a statement from his office said.

#WATCH | Indian diaspora welcomes PM Modi with chants of Vande Mataram in Johannesburg hotel pic.twitter.com/iw6wtofvEy

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2023

After the BRICS meeting, he will travel to Athens on 25 August at the invitation of HE Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece. "This will be my first visit to this ancient land. I have the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years," he added.

"Contacts between our two civilizations stretch back over two millennia. In modern times, our ties have been strengthened by shared values of democracy, rule of law and pluralism. Cooperation in diverse sectors such as trade and investment, defence, and cultural and people-to-people contacts have been bringing our two countries closer. I look forward to my visit to Greece opening a new chapter in our multifacted relationship," he added.